Adam Rittenberg

  (11:59 AM)

Hey guys, welcome to this special edition of my chat. Big Ten regular-season play is in the books, but there's still plenty to discuss. Let's get it going.

Matt, State College PA

Don't you feel that the sharing of the Big Ten title is a little moronic? Two times now Penn St. has had to "share" the title with a team they beat. Why should Ohio St. get to claim they've won a share of the title for 4 straight years when they lost to their "co-champions" twice?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:00 PM)

I've never liked the co-champions thing, especially when there is a head-to-head matchup to determine the real winner. But as long as the Big Ten goes without a championships, which could be a very long time, this is the way it is. But most people know Penn State won the league this year.

Bret, Arizona

Your friends over at the Heisman chat (http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=23847) have Greene picked 9th in the Heisman race. What are your thoughts?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:00 PM)

I voted him fourth in my Heisman Watch list this week, behind McCoy, Bradford and Harrell. Most of the country hasn't seen Greene play much, which kills him in terms of hype.

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:01 PM)

John, Besancon, France.

How do you think the bowl season will play out for the Big Ten? I like the possibility of an Oregon State-Penn State rematch. Forget what happened earlier in the season, the Beavers are a different team right now. Of course I'll be rooting for the Lions if in fact the Beavers make it to the Rose Bowl.

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:02 PM)

How's it going over there, John? Always nice to hear from my readers across the pond. You're in the minority about a Penn State-Oregon State rematch. Most people don't want to see it. But I do think it'll be a better game. The Big Ten could do alright in the bowl season, depending on the matchups.

Alan (Washington, DC)

I'm a big Shonn Greene fan, but he has two major weaknesses no one is talking about: lack of pass catching ability and poor blocking. I think these two weaknesses prevent him from being a 1st round draft pick. Thoughts?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:03 PM)

That's an interesting take, Alan, but I think NFL teams will look at his size and strength as a runner and live with his lack of pass-catching skills. I don't know how much Iowa looked at him to do that, though. Pass blocking will be a key area for Greene going forward.

Ben MI

Does Ohio State really deserve a BCS game? They lost to the two best teams they played and don't have any real quality wins.

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:04 PM)

There's certainly two arguments there. But Ohio State looked awfully good down the stretch. I think the Buckeyes would be a lot more fun to watch in a BCS bowl than some of the teams that will get berths.

Mike (Sunnyvale, CA)

Adam, What do you feel about the "two more wins" rule in the bowl selection process for the Big Ten bowl tie-ins? Northwestern (9-3) beat Iowa (8-4) in the regular season and has a better record overall. Yet, all the bowl prediction pundits (correctly) predict that Iowa will pass Northwestern in bowl selection preference, because Iowa "travels well" and has a larger fan base. It's true that Iowa finished the season very strong, and they definitely deserve the best bowl that they can lobby for. But the Wildcats easily had at least as impressive of a season, and with a stronger record to boot. How can a nacsent program like Northwestern's ever grow in prestige and popularity if the current bowl selection rules allow this kind of inequity? Is the "two more wins" rule too liberal in allowing bowls to make their selections? Thanks for your thoughts and for your blog throughout the season. It's definitely made my lunch breaks a lot more enjoyable. =)

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:07 PM)

Well, in that case, only one win separates Iowa and Northwestern. I would say it's likely the Hawkeyes leapfrog the Wildcats. The key for Northwestern is finding ways to better fill its stadium. It's not easy having a small alumni base in Chicago, a pro sports town. Northwestern can talk all it wants about how well it travels, but when bowl reps see empty seats in Evanston, it's hard to buy in. As for the bowl rules, I think the two-more-wins rule is absurd. A 7-5 team should never go to a Jan. 1 bowl, and it doesn't look good for the league when an 8-4 squad plays on New Year's Day either.

Franklin (Ft. Stewart, Ga)

What do you think the chances are that the Big Ten will pick up another team in the next 5-10 years. I think that the Big East has a few teams that would fit nicely into a Big Ten, east-west conference. I also think that if the Big Ten wants to be noticed as a BCS powerhouse they need a actual championship game.

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:08 PM)

I'd say it's more likely in the 5- to 10-year window than in the next five seasons. Jim Delany probably has five more years left as commissioner, and I don't think he's looking to expand. You never know, though. I'd say it's more likely to see a 12th team sometime after 2013.

Shea (Pittsburgh, Pa)

With LeSean McCoy stating he intends on coming back to Pitt next year, where do you rank him in the heisman race and the Pitt football team for next year?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:08 PM)

He's up there, Shea, especially if both Shonn Greene and Beanie Wells go pro a year early. If that happens, McCoy will be the premier running back in the country next season.

Fred, State College

How important is it for the Big Ten to have a good showing this bowl season for the teams with National Championship aspirations next year?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:10 PM)

It's critical, Fred. The Big Ten never should have its champion, a team that dominated most of the season, ranked No. 8 in the BCS standings. Totally unacceptable. Penn State was largely doomed by the last two bowl seasons. The Big Ten must perform better to give its champion a better shot in 2009.

Zach (A2)

Hey Adam, I heard a ridiculous rumor that I was hoping you could debunk. Mark May was claiming that he's heard through the grapevine, RichRod could be headed to Tenn or Clemson, pure ridicularity, right?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:10 PM)

Anything can happen, Zach, but I'd say Rich leaving Michigan is highly unlikely. If he leaves now, it will forever stain his career that he couldn't get it done at one of the nation's premier programs. It would be a terrible move, if you ask me.

Stephen (Knoxville, TN)

Adam finish the sentence. Brian Kelly will... A) be coaching at Tennessee next year, B) be coaching at Notre Dame assuming the job opens, C) stay at Cincinatti.

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:11 PM)

Sorry Bearcats fans, but it will be A or B. Probably A.

tim (DC)

How do you see next year shaping up? Ohio State at the top?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:11 PM)

The Buckeyes have a lot of guys to replace on defense, but they'll be up there along with Penn State and Iowa.

Gary (ATL)

GO DUCKS! A PSU-OrSU rematch is a no win matchup for PSU. Win the game, and it was expected, no big deal. Lose the game, and continue to add to the B10 image. The only win that will help, which I believe it could happen based on PSU's speed, is a win over USC. Thoughts?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:13 PM)

I agree in part, Gary, but look at it this way. The Big Ten hasn't won the Rose Bowl since Wisconsin on Jan. 1, 2000. That's a really long time. A Rose Bowl win no matter who it's against will help, especially if the Big Ten can win its Florida bowls as well. A 3-1, 3-0 or 4-0 record on Jan. 1 or later would really help the league going forward.

John (Akron, OH)

Adam, do you think Charlie Weis is fired unless he pulls off a miracle against USC?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:14 PM)

I'm not sure. As the Chicago Tribune reported today, his buyout isn't as big a factor as everyone makes it out to be. The bigger question is whether Notre Dame wants another coaching change. That program hasn't had much continuity, and if there isn't an obvious guy they want, it might be best to give Weis another year. Then again, if he's lost the team, which is very possible, he's got to go.

Matt, State College PA

Everyone knows JoePa isn't going anywhere anytime soon. But his son and QB coach, Jay, has a golden opportunity to take up a head coaching position at one of the various vacancies around the country. Jay has been the most criticized of all Joe's current staff, so do you think he'll strike while the iron is hot or stick around another season? Who would take over for Jay if he does leave?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:15 PM)

Jay Paterno should get some consideration for a non-BCS head-coaching job, maybe a place like Toledo or Eastern Michigan. With Tom Bradley likely in line to succeed Joe, I think it'd benefit Jay to look elsewhere. Not sure who would replace him at PSU.

Joe, Philadelphia

I am not sure why voters love Texas Tech so much. We were seconds away from an undefeated season and they were 44 points away! I understand if they see the Big Ten as being "down"..but its ridiculous to me that they are ranked ahead of PSU and no one on ESPN is talking about it! PSU shows up in bowl games, they shouldn't be taking heat brought to the big 10 by OSU.. What do you think could change that?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:16 PM)

They should absolutely not be ranked ahead of Penn State. A team that plays that poorly in such a showcase game deserves a swift kick down the rankings. Penn State had a 1-point road loss. Texas Tech wasn't close to being competitive.

Mark Dantonio (East Lansing, MI)

Who will be taking snaps for me next fall, Nichols or Cousins?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:17 PM)

Great question Mark. That's why you get paid the big bucks to decide. Cousins certainly showed some encouraging sings this fall in relief of Hoyer, but Nichol will be right in the mix as well. It should be a fascinating competition, one of the Big Ten's best next summer.

John (SLC)

If Urban Meyer wins another championship with Florida this year...would he move to ND to see if he can resurrect the beast?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:18 PM)

Why? What's the point? He's got a great situation at Florida, a better recruiting base down there, a strong conference. Unless he's a masochist, he should stay in Gainesville.

John (NYC)

If you were an AD and you could hire any current coach from the Big Ten to build your team, who would you take?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:19 PM)

It depends on the situation, but Mark Dantonio would probably be my pick. He brings the right combination of discipline, passion and recruiting ability.

Clark San Fransico

Do you think Obama is going to be able to get a play off system going? Obviously the Bcs is not working on one side of the coin we have Boise State over OU on the other side of the coin we have Hawaii getting crushed by UG.

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:20 PM)

It will be interesting to see how much influence Obama can have. As a playoff advocate, I'd love to see him force the school presidents to implement something most college football fans want. But it won't be easy, as we've seen thus far.

Bradford (Boise, ID)

Adam, what are your thoughts on the possibility of Boise State being left out of the BCS? Do you think its "fair"?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:21 PM)

It's tough to say, Bradford. Boise State did all it could do on the one hand, but the Mountain West is far more deserving than the WAC this year. It's not the Broncos' fault that the WAC is weak, but it is. If I were Boise State, I'd try to join the Mountain West so this problem doesn't happen again.

Mike (NJ)

Will the Ohio State's bowl game be Beanie Wells last as a Buckeye?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:22 PM)

I think so, barring further injury. Beanie might want to come back for a run at the Heisman, but he'll be projected as a first-round draft pick and the first running back taken. Hard to turn down such an opportunity.

Adam Phoenix AZ

Adam, If Shonn Greene goes pro like we expect, should we really expect to see a drop off in Iowa's run game next year? They return most of the o-line and Jewell Hampton has proved that he is an ideal replacement when he has played this year...

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:24 PM)

Hampton is a solid player, and though you can't expect a Greene-like year, Iowa should be fine at RB in 2009. The biggest key for Iowa is the continued development of QB Ricky Stanzi and finding ways to replace standout defensive tackles Mitch King and Matt Kroul. King will be a major, major loss, mark my words.

Steiny (NYC)

Who has a better chance to win the Bednarik Award. Maybin or Laurinaitis?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:25 PM)

I'd hope it's Maybin, but the media is so in love with Laurinaitis and his back story that it might be tough. Nothing against Laurinaitis, but he was the Big Ten's third-best defensive player this year, behind both Maybin and Iowa's Mitch King. So it's tough to tell. My hunch is Laurinaitis will get it.

Mike (Des Moines, IA)

Hey Adam, just read your position rankings. Do you think Iowa's derrell johnson koulianos has turned the corner? He was not living up to the hype earlier in the year but suddenly during the Penn State game he turned it on, and put up 181 on Minnesota. What can Iowa look forward to in the future with this kid?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:26 PM)

DJK did a really nice job in the second half, beginning with the Penn State game. He'll definitely be one of Ricky Stanzi's top targets next fall. I'm looking forward to doing more on him, since I hear he's quite a character.

Steiny (NYC)

Do you think former Minnesota offensive line coach Phil Meyer can land a coaching job somewhere?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:27 PM)

I think so. But Tim Brewster needed to make a move there, and Tim Davis from Alabama seems like an excellent choice.

Don (Atlanta)

What's the probability that OSU will play UGA in a bowl? (Maybe Capital One Bowl?)

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:28 PM)

That's pretty likely. But if Oregon State loses, Ohio State is probably going to a BCS game. Georgia won't be. But a Capital One matchup pairing preseason No. 1 vs. No. 2 would be fun to watch.

Dave (Des Moines, IA)

Hey Adam - have you heard anything about former Iowa starter Jake Christensen jumping ship? He is a stand up guy and has taken his de-motion well - always encouraging Stanzi. But still, I wouldn't be suprised if he left. Thoughts?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:29 PM)

It wouldn't surprise me at all if Christensen left. Ferentz sort of addressed it last week, saying they would discuss options at some point. But Stanzi will be the quarterback for the next two years, so Christensen might want to look elsewhere (FCS school perhaps).

Aaron: (Dallas, TX)

With Royster being only a sophomore this year, do you see him getting more carries in his junior year and becoming one of the premier backs. Also, will Penn State's poor schedule next year hurt them as much next year?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:30 PM)

Let's start with your second question. Penn State's non-con schedule is terrible in 2009, and it could hurt the Lions if the Big Ten isn't stronger. It's why a good bowl season this year and an improved national reputation is so critical heading into 2009.

UJ (Detroit)

So is Minnesota the 7-1 team that began the year beating no one...or are they really a fraud like we saw at year's end in going 0-4 and getting blown out by Michigan and Iowa?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:31 PM)

Minnesota is a team that survived on opportunistic play for eight games. The Gophers' offensive line was a major weakness that got exposed in the final four weeks. It's somewhat amazing Minnesota won seven games with that offensive line. So I'd say it's a mix. Opportunistic defense, good QB (Adam Weber) but some serious weaknesses as well.

Jackson (IA)

Hey Adam...rumor has it that Iowa may jump Northwestern and MSU in bowl position. Not only do Northwestern and MSU have better records, but they've both played tOSU (which essentially makes their schedule tougher) AND they both beat Iowa head to head! Yeah, the bowl system is fine...

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:32 PM)

It's not supposed to be a fair system. It's about money and nothing else. I agree in part about the scheduling, though Iowa played a tougher non-con schedule than Northwestern this season.

Dwight (Scranton, PA)

How about an early look at your top 5 for the Big-10 in 2009?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:33 PM)

If this is a real Dwight from Scranton, that's awesome. I forgot to TiVo The Office last week. ... Anyway, I'd go with: 1. Penn State 2. Ohio State 3. Iowa 4. Michigan State 5. Wisconsin or Northwestern

Kirk Ferentz (Iowa City, IA)

Adam,what are your thoughts on my Redshirt Freshman Tyler Sash? Could he be the core of my defense the next 2-3 years? (Maybe the best kept secret in Iowa the last few years)

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:34 PM)

He's real good, Kirk. Actually, your secondary is real good, something I didn't realize until the end of the season. Amari Spievey had an excellent season, and Brent Greenwood is a solid young safety.

Brutus (Columbus, OH)

Do you think Jim Tressel will eventually overshadow Woody Hayes?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:35 PM)

Maybe in on-field success, but Tressel lacks the personality Hayes had. He won't be the same type of iconic figure for Ohio State and college football fans.

Paul (Hollywood, Fl)

Who will win the National Title? Straight up.....

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:35 PM)

Florida.

Jay (Pawleys Island, SC)

Hey Adam - I know the Big 10 has taken some hits for being weak. What about the Big 12 -- the only top 40 teams they play are themselves. Everyone else is Buffalo, Eastern Mich, N. Dakota St. etc. I see they are play well but why all the adoration? Big numbers are all relative. Play some tougher out of Conference opponents.

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:37 PM)

Every BCS league except the Pac-10 and maybe the ACC plays terrible non-conference schedules. The Big 12 is adored because people love quarterbacks and big plays and offense more than anything. It's fun football to watch. But the nonconference schedules between the Big Ten, SEC and Big 12 are pretty similar in weakness.

Nate State College Pa

Adam, I have been hearing this since the Iowa loss, Can Penn State still make the BCS Title game, Is it Possible ?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:38 PM)

It's highly unlikely, Nate. You would need Florida to lost to Florida State, Alabama to lose to Auburn, USC to lose again (probably), and Texas probably to lose to A&M. Too much in the way.

Tony (Ryan,Iowa)

Adam, how would u change your big10 perdiction around if any if Shonn Greene decides to stay and play his final year

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:39 PM)

I wouldn't. I feel comfortable with Iowa at No. 3 either way. Penn State returns its QB and many of its defensive standouts. Iowa still needs to replace Mitch King, which won't be easy.

Beano Cook (South Bend)

If CW gets pummeled this weekend my courses say he will be gone. Will it be Fitzgerald from NU or that guy at Cinncy? Or do you see another, better, fit?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:39 PM)

Hey, Beano. Weis could be gone, but Notre Dame would have to have a good idea of who it wanted to hire. Fitzgerald won't be going anywhere. He'll be at Northwestern forever. Brian Kelly, on the other hand ...

Mike, so cal

adam, notre dame is terrible, so is the little 10, and so are you.

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:40 PM)

Thanks, Mike. Happy Thanksgiving!

Willie (Evanston, IL)

Does NU Def. Coordinator Mike Hankwitz deserve the Assistant Coach of the Year award? Talk about a turn-around...they dropped from 31 ppg to 19.3, and led the Big Ten in sacks!

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:41 PM)

Without question, Willie. Northwestern's hire of Hankwitz was by far the best coaching move of the offseason. He transformed that defense from arguably the worst in the conference to one of the best in one season.

Tommy ( Austin, TX)

Do you think Texas Tech can duplicate this season over the next couple years, or will we be back to a conisitant 9-3 or 8-4 team?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:42 PM)

A lot depends on coaching. Will Mike Leach leave? If he does, there could be some bumps during a transition period. If Leach stays, I could see tech staying around 8-10 wins the next few years.

Patrick (Washington, DC)

Adam, are you going to a bowl game this year?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:42 PM)

Several, I hope.

Jake (San Diego)

With the reshuffling of the Big East and ACC, bo you think one (or both) should lose their automatic BCS bid? Maybe adjust the auto-bids from year to year, based on Conference SOS? That might also help encourage teams to lay off the FCS schools...

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:44 PM)

It's tough to say. Not too long ago the Big East had three or four top 10 teams. But for the second time in five years, the Big East will send a team to a BCS game that probably doesn't deserve to be there. I'd love to see the Mountain West get an automatic berth, but it's unlikely the system will change much.

Keith (The Boro)

Ok, so we know how Terrelle Pryor's first year at Columbus went...10-2 and pretty gud for true freshmen How do u see his last three years at OSU...National Title, Heisman, maybe best QB in big ten.."EVER"? wats ur take??

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:45 PM)

He could be real good, Keith. Next year will be interesting if Beanie Wells leaves for the NFL. But the offensive line should be better, and Pryor is so dangerous on the move. He'll be in the Heisman mix as a junior in 2010.

Rob (Australia)

Adam, I've heard USC doesn't want to play in the rose bowl. Perhaps they are afraid of PSU. JoePa has a decent record against them I believe, and they know PSU would be the best team they played all year. Maybe thats why mike was so vengeful towards you and the B11.

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:46 PM)

How's it going down under? I don't think USC is afraid of anyone. The Trojans think they can win the national title game, though it's unlikely they get there. But Penn State-USC would be a pretty solid matchup in Pasadena.

jon (dubuque,ia)

why didn't the hawkeye defensive backs get any love in the all-big ten teams?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:48 PM)

Amari Spievey was named second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches. Bradley Fletcher and Brent Greenwood earned honorable mention. So there was some recognition. Again, the four losses really hurt Iowa, even with the way the Hawkeyes finished.

JD, Dallas

Would Lane Kiffin be a good hire for Tennessee?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:48 PM)

I think so. He's got some ties to that area and the biggest thing Tennessee wants is a young, energetic, recruiter-type. Kiffin fits the mold.

Cosmo (Anytown, USA)

Assuming Notre Dame loses to USC, do you think they accept a bid to a lesser known December bowl game?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:49 PM)

It might depend on final exams. If the bowl trip was too early and conflicted with finals, Notre Dame might not accept. If it's the Sun Bowl, Notre Dame would be foolish not to accept.

Dan - San Jose

Correct me if I am wrong, but Utah is undefeated and has won at Michigan (when they were actually relevant), vs. Oregon State, vs. TCU, and vs. BYU...and they will not get an opportunity to play for a Championship? This is stupid. Why does any team that's not in the priviledged conferences even bother?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:51 PM)

It's too bad, but Utah still gets a ton of exposure and money for playing in a BCS bowl. It's a great event for non-BCS teams and their fans. There should be an avenue to play for the national championship, but the current system does have some rewards for non-BCS squads.

Nick (Salt Lake City)

Adam, going back 4-5 questions, you kidding me right? You will lose total credibility if you think at this point of the season that USC will lose to the two pathertic "JC" teams left on their schedule.

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:52 PM)

He was asking me what it would take for Penn State to get in the title game. I told him it was extremely unlikely and listed a USC loss as one of the things Penn State would need to happen.

J.B. (Dunmore, PA)

It is a shame that we may not get to see USC v PSU. I think the two teams match up very well. If they did match up though, do you think USC might pull an Oklahoma and not be as well prepared because they were too busy whining about not being invited to the title game?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:52 PM)

It's awfully hard to bet against USC in the Rose Bowl. Pete Carroll's teams are always prepared for those games.

Nick- Miami

Does FSU stand a chance?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:53 PM)

The 'Noles need to attack down the field and score first. And the defense will need to play out of its mind to contain Florida. Don't see it happening.

Justin (NY, NY)

Regardless of their performance against Oklahoma and where they should be "ranked", you don't really think Penn State could compete with Texas Tech on a neutral field, do you?

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:54 PM)

It would be a game, Justin. Tech's defense was a joke last Saturday, and Penn State can stretch the field, last I checked.

Adam Rittenberg

  (12:55 PM)

OK guys, that's all the time I've got. Happy Thanksgiving and I'll talk to you next week!